WASHINGTON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court said on Tuesday it would decide whether handguns can be banned in Washington, D.C., a case that could produce its first ruling in nearly 70 years on the right of Americans to carry guns.

The nation's highest court agreed to hear an appeal by the District of Columbia government arguing that the city's 31-year-old law banning private possession of handguns in the nation's capital should be upheld as constitutional.

The justices said they would review a precedent-setting ruling by a U.S. appeals court that broadly interpreted an individual's constitutional right to bear arms under the Second Amendment and struck down Washington's law for violating those rights.

The Supreme Court will hear arguments most likely in March, with a ruling expected by the end of June. The decision could become an issue in the 2008 elections.

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence said it hoped the high court would overturn a "clearly erroneous" ruling.

"The Supreme Court's decision in this case will be extremely significant -- the most important decision on guns in nearly 70 years and maybe the most important ever regarding the Second Amendment," said the group's president, Paul Helmke.

posted November 20, 200720:03
i am a little concerned. they didn't need to take it up if they were going to affirm the lower court ruling...the lower court said the gun ban in DC was unconstitutional..

hopefully they are just taking it to settle the matter once and for all, but if they overturn the lower court ruling? i expect bad things...